On the Topic of Timed Leather

Sarah was particularly talkative today, her words droned on and on for what seemed like an eternity. Ellis Murray shifted her focus to the plain circular black and white wall clock adorning the bare brick interior wall of the former warehouse and wished she had paid better attention in whatever grade taught time telling. It had to have been at least fifteen minutes since the conversation had started. Ellis could feel the seconds accumulating to the lost years of her youth, whatever was left of it. In her late twenties, the reality of agedness stared down the barrel. Yes, aging is a blessing, she had to remember that truth even though she was wasting precious moments. Sarah Smalls stood in front of her. Despite her surname, she was anything but small in stature at her above average height of 5’ 7”. This did not help matters as Ellis had to crane her neck to make eye contact. The strain would force her to make a chiropractor appointment, she was sure of it. There was one advantage, she could distract herself by focusing on the vaulted ceilings. She figured the chandeliers were an addition found in recent decades. She tried to imagine the bronze and warmed amber finished metal fixtures giving light to factory workers in the 1920s. She wondered what this place would have looked like, sounded like, and, even, smelled like in the past century.

Their acquaintanceship had started with a friendly ‘hello’, nothing suggesting wanting more than to be passing employees, but it turned into more. At least for Sarah it had seemingly turned into more. Or maybe Ellis was wrong, this could be the natural ebb and flow of a workplace friendship. Sarah was a talker, there was no mistaking that. The thought had popped into her mind that she needed a friend to talk to, someone to listen, that she was all alone in the world except for the humans she interacted with on a daily basis at work. And then it dissolved from Ellis’ mind after a nearly thirty minute conversation one day. Sure, they had things in common: their place of employment, their faith, and…well, there must be something else. In truth, they disagreed more than they agreed. Of course, she had never voiced her disagreement, but, then again, she never had the chance to.

Ellis turned her focus back on the surroundings: an office space designed with the intention to be hip. Adjustable standing desks and exercise ball chairs lined the floor. Plants she was almost certain were fake joined them. In truth, some of the employees matched the decor with their trendy outfits and photos of pets and nick nacks adorning their desks. Ellis could do without the open concept. She liked privacy, craved it even. The floorplan had led to lone lunches in her car. She liked the quiet, the peace. Especially given the current water cooler chit-chat content. She wished life came with a mute button, but she guessed God had His reasons for not including one. Most likely so His creations would interact with one another, fellowshipping and the such. But there was only so much a girl could take. That is when something Sarah said grabbed her attention like a lioness sinking her teeth into a fleeing gazelle.

“You watch Timed Leather?” Ellis asked in reaction.

Sarah eagerly nodded her head in agreement.

“Haven't I mentioned that before?” she asked.

Ellis hoped her face did not betray her and show the panic as she replayed the bits and pieces of their conversations, the parts she had listened to, at full speed. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence (a rare occurrence) she pasted on her most apologetic smile.

“Sorry, I don't remember. You probably did, but sometimes my memory just poofs,” Ellis said, raising her hands in a fluttering gesture to emphasize her point.

“Oh don't worry, I'm the same way,” Sarah replied, “so anyways, I was going to go to the store after work, but I think I may end up waiting and going another day.”

I nod my head, “Oh ok. So, you said you watch Timed Leather, what season are you on?”

Timed Leather was another show in the long line of reality based competition shows. It showcased the skills of leather making put against the clock. Ten contestants started every season and only one was labeled Leathermaster at the end.

“I'm all caught up, thankfully, now I don't have to dodge spoilers,” she said with a laugh.

Ellis laughed as well, “I know. I spent the whole weekend it came out binge watching so I wouldn't have to worry.”

The current season was one for the record books and contained the highest ratings in the show's six year history. The competition had been fierce, each competitor being a master of their craft.

“Isn't it the best show ever?!” Sarah said a little too loudly causing Ellis to give a slight cringe and glance to see if anyone was looking.

“Yeah, it's my favorite!” Ellis said, matching the enthusiasm, just with an appropriate amount of inside volume.

Ellis wondered if, more like hoped, this could be the beginning of a true friendship. One where she could honestly enjoy the conversation and not simply suffer through.

“This is great! We should do a watch party for next season’s premiere,” Ellis said.

Sarah smiled, “I would like that.”

This was really happening. Ellis’ heart jumped for joy and her genuine smile was beginning to hurt, but she did not care.

“It's so much better than Leather Time.” Sarah said.

Ellis quickly attempted to suppress the grimace coming to her face. She was able to catch it and exchange it with a smile. Leather Time was the predecessor to Timed Leather. The revival was finding a new audience along with the old. However, Ellis was willing to overlook this minor offense.

“And it sucks what they did to Toni,” Sarah continued.

Ellis’ heart dropped to the pit of her stomach with a resounding thud. There it was: the betrayal. She knew this was too good to be true. Any true friendship was free of any disagreements or dissension. There were no differences of opinion. She could only imagine the strife that would come from this discovery.

“What do you mean?” Ellis asked.

Sarah’s smile faltered slightly at Ellis’ clipped words and friendly masked boiling anger.

“Toni deserved the win over Tony,” Sarah said.

Part of the high ratings came from the Tony and Toni drama. Both were young, but skilled, at their crafts. The network poised them as friends. That was, until Toni’s backstabbing: the hiding of a corner punch during the semi-finals. Ellis could still remember the moment, the pain mixed with rage. Thankfully, Tony had come from behind and stunned the judges with his western design: simple yet impactful. Toni, the cheat, had come in second place. He also produced a western design, but his focused more on cacti and desert flowers and such. In an interview, Toni said he honestly misplaced the corner punch. Tony forgave him and the two have been spotted as friends. But Ellis and the other fans of Tony would never overlook the obvious blatant slight.

“Well, Toni didn't deserve the win,” Ellis said, her voice in a hushed and curt tone, “Tony was the better leather craftsmen.”

A hush fell between them.

“Yeah,” Ellis said.

“Yeah,” Sarah said.

Both women looked around the room, their eyes never landing on the other, from everything to each other's outfits, to foreheads, to anything but the eyes: never the eyes. They both cleared their throats, Sarah a bit more aggressively than Ellis.

“Well, I guess I should get back to work,” Sarah voiced.

“Yeah. Same,” Ellis answered.

The women turned and walked their separate ways, backs turned to the other, neither looking back. For, on the topic of Timed Leather, a budding friendship between two familiar, yet seemingly unfamiliar, coworkers was vanquished by the egregious evil of opposing views.